L'Étape du Tour 2026: The 1 Thing That Will Stop You (It's Not Fitness).

You've got the entry. You've trained. But have you actually thought about everything else? The bike, the medical certificate, the day itself. The fitness conversation is over. This is about the stuff that turns a hard day into a disaster, or doesn't, and it's all still in your hands. Five things to do before the start line on 19 July. From someone who lives at the foot of Alpe d'Huez and has ridden this. Number three catches first-timers out every single year. What we cover: 00:00 — Last few weeks: where you are now 01:16 — Sort your bike (and why you can't leave it) 01:58 — Watch the Sarenne [    • The Secret Col de Sarenne Guide Every Etap...   ] , and what to ride instead when you arrive [    • Oisans Cycling: The Easier Alpe d’Huez War...   ] 02:39 — What your riding should look like from here 03:23 — Concentrate on your own ride - The one thing that takes the pressure off 03:56 — The certificate that will stop you riding The Col de Sarenne walked in full — watch this before you travel: [    • The Secret Col de Sarenne Guide Every Etap...   ] The most comprehensive 2026 L'Etape du Tour coverage on YouTube. Check ou the full playlist here    • L'Etape du Tour 2026   First time doing the Étape? The eBook covers everything, start to finish — about the price of a coffee and a croissant at the top of Alpe d'Huez: https://morethan21bends.com/product/y... Want it tailored to you, your fitness and your worries? I run a 45-minute one-to-one planning call, limited to 8 places: https://morethan21bends.com/product/e... #LEtapeDuTour #EtapeDuTour2026 #AlpedHuez #ColdeSarenne #cyclingfrance #granfondo #cyclosportive #cycling Honest picks — I actually own and use all of these. These are affiliate links, so I get a small commission if you buy through them (at no extra cost to you). It helps keep the channel going. Camera — Insta360 Ace Pro 2 My main camera for cycling videos. 8K, flips up for vlogging, sharp in low light. Replaced my old action cam and I haven't looked back. https://amzn.to/4qMBP7I 360° camera — Insta360 X-series For the wide shots and the moving footage where you want to reframe later. Worth it if you're filming rides solo. https://amzn.to/3OocaVg Microphone — Hollyland Lark A1 Clip-on wireless mic. Clean audio even in wind. Single biggest upgrade to video quality I've made — a good mic matters more than a better camera. https://amzn.to/3ZJ3oUf Bike computer — iGPSPORT What I use for route recording and navigation. Solid alternative to Garmin at half the price. https://amzn.to/4r1Mg7D Tripod Large, stable, survives being left out in the Alps. https://amzn.to/4aCpcGd Website : https://www.morethan21bends.com Help support the channel and buy me a coffee https://buymeacoffee.com/morethan21bends #cycleride #cyclistlife #cyclingvlog #cyclisme #morethan21bends #cycling #bikepacking #cyclingvlog #cycling #cyclinginfrance #backackinglife